Ex-Chelsea FC doctor attends constructive dismissal tribunal

Former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro has arrived at a tribunal court for her constructive dismissal case against the Premier League football club.

Dr Carneiro arrived at the London South Employment Tribunal in Croydon holding hands with her husband, polar explorer Jason De Carteret.

A private hearing is being taking place before an employment judge, during which the parties could agree to come to a settlement, allowing them to forgo a full public hearing which could see ex-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho called to give evidence.

The 42-year-old doctor was dropped from first-team duties after then boss Mourinho criticised her and first-team physio Jon Fearn for going on to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard on the opening day of the season.

The action meant that Chelsea were temporarily down to nine men against Swansea, and afterwards Mourinho called Dr Carneiro and Fearn ”impulsive and naive”.

Dr Carneiro did not appear on the bench again for first-team duties and later parted company with the club.

Chelsea filed their defence in the tribunal hearing in December.

Dr Carneiro also has a separate personal legal action against Mourinho, who left the club in December, for alleged victimisation and discrimination.

He was cleared of using discriminatory language towards her following an investigation by the Football Association.

Afterwards, Dr Carneiro and the FA’s independent board member, Dame Heather Rabbatts, criticised the governing body for not interviewing the doctor as part of its investigation.

Dr Carneiro has also had backing from Fifa’s medical chairman, Michel D’Hooghe, who contacted the doctor to offer his support and that of the world governing body. He has backed Dr Carneiro’s insistence that she was simply doing her job.